Another charm added to the charm bracelet of loss--finally!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Last year's pumpkin, this year I'm not carving, just using gourds and soup pumpkins.

SO, finally! another charm added to the bracelet of loss today. That's another kilo gone, a really hard won kilo, although I'm certain I have added muscle weight as well as lost fat since becoming a gym rat.

Today's charm, a solid silver cat, an expensive one, the next one or two will need to be more modest.

The near constant reminder of wearing the charm bracelet of loss and seeing the progress in silver charms remains a good idea for me. I'm not quite half way around the bracelet yet. When I get there, I think I will have the right to a really special charm. The total of links on the bracelet represent the big goal, anything more is just icing on the cake.

I'm finally back to the point where I was before the year of injury. Not easy to come back from that, but now it is mostly in the past and it's time to move forward, slowly, as that seems to be how it is working out. No quick, giant losses for me. I think I'm doing everything right and I'm just plodding along.

I can't wait to report this one on Friday in the challenge I'm in, finally a bit of forward progress!

And now I get to dream about the next charm for the next kilo--- I saw a tiny barbell, might be a contender!

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My wedding rings are spinning!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

I've had to switch my wedding rings from my left hand to my right hand because they were spinning so much I was afraid they would fall off. Who figures we have fat in our fingers? I guess we do!

I think I'll just switch them from finger to finger on either hand until I get to a point when I'm satisfied that my fingers aren't going to get any smaller then I'll resize them.

So far, this is my favorite non-scale victory. Visible, tangible proof that something is smaller.

It's the little things that count.

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Went over my Fitness Minutes objective for the Year today!

Monday, October 04, 2010

Closeup of "Cambouis" who likes to sleep in the middle of my mat when I want to do crunches.

I had set a 15 000 fitness minutes for the year objective back in January, thinking that would be more than reasonable. I'm happy to report I went over it today and now the race is on to see how many Fitness Minutes I can rack up before the end of the year.

I do a lot of walking for cardio, so that helps, but now, the gym is helping even more.

This is one of those non- weight loss related objectives that makes me feel good about the whole process. I do wish the weight loss objectives came easier though.

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Most Expensive Challenge Ever--Fall 5%-Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving is what I hope I'll be thinking...

The Fall 5% Challenge pushed me into joining a gym after a disappointing Summer Challenge that involved a long plateau.

I spent 429 euros, that's 577$ at today's rate, gulp, the Monday after the challenge started on a year's gym membership. And that's the local low cost gym too, nothing fancy, basic machines, a 30 minute circuit and weight machines.

I met my gym goals for last week which broke down to this:

Monday gym: half bike machine, half treadmill
Tuesday home: elliptical and arms, core and abs exercises
Wednesday: nothing
Thursday: gym, bike and some of the circuit machines
Friday : gym, treadmill and some machines
Saturday: light walking
Sunday: big walk

Felt great, a bit sore in the beginning, not too bad though. I've been stretching really well after the gym. So this is the plan for the next bit of time, let's say the time of the challenge.

Only real goals, try to break the plateau, sleep better, destress. Any weight loss would be great but I have to stop worrying about it.

I'm trying to create new habits that will keep me going to the gym long term. I refuse to do anything I don't like to do that makes me not want to go to the gym. So far so good, I like the treadmill a lot more than I thought I would and the bike is fine, I think I can even think about bringing a book next time and trying it out.

One week and two days of the new exercise program down.

One good thing, if I look at it this way, going to the gym will cost me 2.75 euros each time if I go three times a week for the year. Less if I go more. And even less if I keep it up for the year after, as it will be a bit less expensive the second year. I have to look at it as an investment and it gets me out meeting some new people too.

Hoping for a Happy Thanksgiving and a stronger me.

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Skin Care--FINALLY have a good system!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

I'm 44. I've been pretty good about skin care since I was 30 and always use sunscreen and eat lots of fruit and veggies and drink water, which I still think are the most important things.

I finally found a way to do a little more without upsetting my sensitive skin and causing red bumps and without costing a fortune. In France, it is common to go to the beauty shop to have special treatments every month but that is way out of my price range. Last week I read one of the skin care experts talking about what you could do at home and I got up and tried it immediately and loved the results. And it is simple. Use what you already have at home. I dug out magazine samples, hotel samples and what I regularly use and had everything I needed.

This is for your face and neck, never neglect your neck, it can really show the stress and age.

Method for clean, very moistuized skin that didn't make me break out becuase it was too aggressive:

1. put hair back with a band. Wash face and neck well, not aggressively. I used one wipe, then washed with Cetaphil, THE BEST PRODUCT EVER, and wiped off with a wet washcloth.

2. Use a serum, let soak in for 2 minutes. This stuff can be more expensive but you don't at all need the fancy brands, and you use a tiny amount so it goes a long way. Great stuff though, super concentrated and makes a difference.

3. Use a moisturizing mask, let sit 15 minutes or so, mine wiped off with a damp washcloth. I had an inexpensive one and it worked just fine.

4. Rinse face with water and pat dry.

5. Apply moisturizer lightly. I avoided my chin, a trouble spot that has plenty of oil already but did the rest of my face and neck.

Total, about 20 minutes that I ran around cleaning btween steps.

Fantatstic results. Much softer, smoother skin, no breakouts, no blotches. People at work have been commenting. I can see the difference in two weeks.

I have done this twice a week for two weeks. I don't think more would be helpful for me. Remember to be gentle with all of the steps.

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